At least two people have been killed and scores more displaced after a renewed bandit attack on Bargaja town in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State in the early hours of Sunday. The assault, which occurred around 1:30 a.m., sparked panic, prompting many villagers to abandon their homes and flee to Sokoto city and nearby settlements in search of safety.
According to a local security analyst, the attackers are believed to be part of a network loyal to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, whose fighters have long been active in the Sokoto–Zamfara axis. Bargaja had been one of the few communities in the area that consistently resisted previous raids.
Eyewitnesses said local vigilante groups confronted the gunmen in a fierce gun battle as they attempted to repel the raid. Tragically, two vigilantes — identified as Umaru Biri and Garba Mumminu — were shot dead during the clash. Residents also claimed that several of the bandits were killed, though their bodies were reportedly taken away by their comrades into nearby forest hideouts after the fight.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes as terrified families — particularly women and children — loaded their belongings onto vehicles and made hurried escapes from the stricken community. Many expressed fear that the worsening insecurity in the region is not being adequately addressed by authorities, a concern widely shared among affected villagers.
The Sokoto State Police Command has acknowledged a video circulating on social media of the incident, but further details from security agencies were still awaited at the time of reporting.
This latest raid is part of a broader pattern of violence that has seen numerous rural communities in eastern Sokoto repeatedly targeted and, in some cases, entirely deserted following relentless attacks linked to bandit groups.
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